Political Dig

Earlier Tuesday, a debate on government affairs in Pennsylvania took a strange turn after Pennsylvania House State Government Committee Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R) went on an anti-gay rant when Democratic Chairman Matt Bradford touched his arm.

Bradford was making a point on land use issues when Metcalfe interrupted him.

“Representative Bradford,” said Metcalfe, cutting off Bradford. “Look, I’m a heterosexual. I have a wife, I love my wife. I don’t like men, as you might. But stop touching me all the time.”

“It’s like keep your hands to yourself,” he added as a startled Bradford looked on and began laughing. “Like, if you want to touch somebody, you have people on your side of the aisle that might like it. I don’t.”

“We are officially off the rails,” Bradford said to the assembled panel with a smirk. He then turned to a stone-faced Metcalfe and said, “My intent was just to beg for your permission for about 30 seconds.”

“Then beg, don’t touch,” Metcalfe shot back.

“I don’t know where we go from here,” Bradford said as people in the room began to laugh.